Enhanced ablation and visualization techniques

Abstract

A system and method for enhancing diagnosis and treatment including an extended working channel defining an elongated passageway and adapted to extend through the bronchoscope and into a luminal network, an opening operably associated with the extended working channel and in fluid communication with the luminal network, and a medical instrument configured for insertion through the extended working channel, wherein during operation, apposition of tissue on the extended working channel or medical instrument isolates at least a portion of a luminal network in which the extended working channel is inserted.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for use with a bronchoscope, comprising:
 an extended working channel defining an elongated passageway and configured to be inserted through a bronchoscope and into a luminal network; 
 a valve extending through a lumen formed by a proximal end portion of the extended working channel, the lumen extending at an angle to a longitudinal axis defined by the extended working channel, the valve during use being located outside the bronchoscope and in fluid communication with the luminal network; and 
 a medical instrument configured for insertion through the extended working channel and into the luminal network; 
 wherein during operation, a vacuum source applies suction to the valve to remove air from the luminal network via the lumen, the applied suction causing tissue of the luminal network to move toward the extended working channel or the medical instrument such that the tissue of the luminal network forms a seal around an outer surface of the extended working channel or the medical instrument, thereby isolating at least a portion of the luminal network in which the extended working channel is inserted and securing an orientation of the extended working channel relative to a target within the luminal network. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source is a syringe. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum source generates a threshold amount of suction to remove air from at least a portion of a luminal network in which the extended working channel is inserted. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein during the operation, a consistent zone around the medical instrument is created by suctioning the air from at least a portion of a luminal network in which the extended working channel is inserted using a distal opening of the extended working channel. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid source comprises saline. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen is in fluid communication with a liquid source. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the valve is in fluid communication with the liquid source and a distal opening of the extended working channel. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein during operation, a consistent zone around the medical instrument is created by injecting fluid from the fluid source through the valve and into at least a portion of a luminal network in which the extended working channel is inserted. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a duckbill. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more balloons operably associated with the extended working channel to secure the extended working channel within the luminal network and isolate at least a portion of the luminal network. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the extended working channel defines a distal opening located proximal of a distal end of the extended working channel and in fluid communication with the luminal network and the valve, the distal opening in use being located outside the bronchoscope and within the luminal network. 
     
     
       12. A system for use with a bronchoscope, comprising:
 an extended working channel configured to be inserted through a bronchoscope and into a luminal network of a patient; 
 a lumen formed by a proximal end portion of the extended working channel and extending at an angle to a longitudinal axis defined by the extended working channel, the lumen in fluid communication with the luminal network; 
 a valve extending through the lumen, the valve during use being located outside the bronchoscope and being in fluid communication with the luminal network; and 
 a vacuum source configured to be fluidly coupled to the valve to remove air from the luminal network via the lumen, the removal of air from the luminal network collapsing the luminal network onto the extended working channel such that tissue of the luminal network forms a seal around an outer surface of the extended working channel to secure an orientation of the extended working channel relative to a target within the luminal network. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the lumen extends perpendicularly from the proximal end portion of the extended working channel. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a medical instrument configured to be inserted through the extended working channel such that the medical instrument extends from a distal end of the extended working channel into the luminal network and in proximity to the target. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein removal of air from the luminal network via the lumen collapses the luminal network onto the medical instrument to isolate the target and the medical instrument within a portion of the luminal network in which the medical instrument is inserted. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a liquid source configured to be fluidly coupled to the valve to inject liquid into the luminal network via the lumen, the injected liquid facilitating transfer of energy from the medical instrument to the target. 
     
     
       17. A system for use with a bronchoscope, comprising:
 an extended working channel configured to be inserted through a bronchoscope and into a luminal network of a patient; 
 a medical instrument configured to be inserted through the extended working channel such that the medical instrument extends from a distal end of the extended working channel into the luminal network and in proximity to a target within the luminal network; 
 a first opening defined by a distal portion of the extended working channel and in fluid communication with the luminal network, the first opening during use being located outside the bronchoscope and within the luminal network; 
 a lumen formed by a proximal end portion of the extended working channel, the lumen extending at an angle to a longitudinal axis defined by the extended working channel, the lumen defining a second opening in fluid communication with the luminal network via the first opening; 
 a valve extending through the lumen, the valve during use being located outside the bronchoscope and in fluid communication with the luminal network via the first opening; and 
 a vacuum source configured to be fluidly coupled to the valve to remove air from the luminal network such that tissue of the luminal network forms a seal around an outer surface of the extended working channel. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the seal formed around the outer surface of the extended working channel secures an orientation of the extended working channel relative to the target. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 17 , wherein removal of air from the luminal network collapses the luminal network onto the medical instrument to isolate the target and the medical instrument within a portion of the luminal network in which the medical instrument is inserted.